Best Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta With Bacon Recipes

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Boil 6 cups of water in a large pot over high heat and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water (so it doesn't clump, can also toss a little olive oil on it to prevent clumping) and set aside.
• While the pasta is cooking, add the butter, olive oil and onion to a large pot over medium-high heat and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.
• Add the red bell pepper, garlic, Cajun seasoning, basil, paprika, ground black pepper, salt and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine and cook for 3 more minutes or until the bell pepper starts to become soft.
• Add the chicken and stir and cook for another 6-8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Add the parmesan, heavy cream, cream cheese and chicken broth and stir and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken and the cream cheese has fully melted.
• Add the cooked and drained pasta and stir to coat pasta with sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then serve with freshly chopped parsley on top, if desired.

CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA WITH BACON

Steps:

• BACON: Add bacon strips to the skillet and cook until crispy. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined platter that will absorb extra grease. Chop into 1 inch pieces
• CHICKEN: Paper towel dry the chicken and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Then set aside.Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet. Add chicken breasts and cook on each side on medium high heat for about 4 minutes per side (for a total of 8 minutes) until nicely browned. If chicken is still pink in the center, reduce heat to medium and cook covered for several minutes until no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from pan and slice it.
• Add butter to the hot pan and once it melts, add chopped garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Add tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes on medium high until tomatoes release their juices. Add fresh spinach and cook until it wilts.
• Reduce the heat and season with paprika, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes and salt. Mix.
• Next add heavy cream - you are still cooking on low heat. Once heavy cream is slightly simmering, slowly add Parmesan cheese. Once you add the cheese, stir on low simmer until smooth.
• PASTA: In the meantime bring a large pot of water to boil, add pasta and cook it according to instructions. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse.
• Add sliced chicken, bacon and pasta. Next add chopped parsley. Stir until fully coated in sauce. Season with more salt if necessary.
• TO SERVE: Serve with additional shredded Parmesan and red pepper flakes, if desired.

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA WITH BACON

Steps:

• Place chicken, olive oil and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat. Roast at 425* for 8-10 minutes, or until just done. Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then shred or cube.
• Cook pasta according to package directions. You want it to be al dente (or even a bit less than al dente if you will be putting it in the crock pot. You will also want to double or triple the sauce ingredients if you are using the crock pot).
• In a large skillet over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towels and drain, then crumble. Saute onions and garlic in butter and bacon drippings until onion is tender and browning, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat and add heavy cream, evaporated milk, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, garlic salt, and black pepper and allow to simmer and thicken a bit.
• Stir in hot pasta and allow to cook a couple of minutes without boiling to finish cooking pasta and allow it to absorb the flavors of the sauce. (At this point you could place the mixture in the crock pot on warm along with the shredded chicken).
• Stir in sour cream, chicken, green onions and parmasean and heat through. Top each serving with crisp crumbled bacon and serve immediately. (If putting int the crock pot, stir in sour cream about 30 minutes before serving--remember to check periodically to see if the pasta is sucking up too much moisture. You may want to add extra cream, milk and sour cream and seasonings. Stir in parmesean and green onions right before serving and top with bacon.).

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 Tbsp salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water then drain, cover, and keep warm.
• Beat the chicken breasts so that they are even in thickness and season all over with 1½ Tbsp cajun seasoning.
• In a large non-reactive skillet*, heat 2 tsp oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and sear on both sides. Turn heat down to low and saute until cooked through and 165˚F on a thermometer. Transfer to a cutting board, slice into thin strips, and cover to keep warm.
• In the same skillet over medium heat, saute the butter and garlic for 30-60 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the diced tomatoes and saute another 2 minutes.
• Add in the heavy whipping cream, remaining cajun seasoning, and parmesan cheese, and bring to a simmer. Season to taste if needed.
• Add the sliced chicken and cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until combined and pasta and chicken are warmed through. Add warm reserved pasta water if desired to thin the sauce. Serve with freshly grated parmesan and chopped parsley.

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter or margarine until chicken is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through.
• Pour over hot linguine and toss with Parmesan cheese.